There are many successes for the corporate program of dominance in recent times and very few set-backs. The corporate agenda has appeared unstoppable. The courts, the entire political system and all levels of government seem bent toward corporate corporate interests and obedience to corporate dictates.

In spite of this, a series of moves by the activist community has achieved a victory over corporate interests. It almost seemed as if it couldn't be done. The corporate control seemed unstoppable. I appeared that we were all doomed by the monied interests.

We all need to take heart in this success and gather ourselves together for future opportunities to enforce reason and good sense rather than enriching the elite.

The Obama administration announced Friday that it was changing direction on new lease sales for drilling in the Arctic. Accordingly, two offshore lease sales scheduled for 2016 and 2017 will be cancelled.

After spending $7 billion over several years to explore a single well this summer, Shell said in a statement that it "found indications of oil and gas … but these are not sufficient to warrant further exploration." This contrasts sharply with Shell officials' statements as recently as July and August that based on 3D and 4D seismic analysis of core samples, its petroleum geologists were "very confident" drillers would find plentiful oil.​

"So, thanks to the kayaktivists who, um, made the US Arctic off limits to oil drillers." Bill McKibben

For more information regarding what is at stake and who the players are, one should read Michael T. Klare’s vastly researched, minutely detailed book “The Race for What’s Left: The Global Scramble for the World’s Last Resources,”

The case Klare makes is dire but simple: There are no longer any essential resources for economic expansion or survival that are abundant, accessible and safe to obtain. The natural assets that form the core of 21st century life include oil, gas, precious metals, rare earth minerals, land and water

Geological stores will increasingly be the trump cards in international relations—more than ideology and religion, which have been at the core of most tension and conflicts for decades. Belief and politics will diminish in importance as the demand and need for food, energy and the elements that keep economic production humming increase.

It is interesting to fantasize about the conversation that took place as the people of Easter Island were planning to cut down the last tree on their island... is that us, now?

The Royal Dutch Shell icebreaker Fennica heads up the Willamette river with Greenpeace protesters, suspended from a bridge above – and others kayaking below. Photograph: Don Ryan/AP

The kayaktivists in the Willamette River, before the icebreaker made its way through. Photograph: Don Ryan/AP